Fringe Bosses Say this Season's Finale Can Work As Series Finale, But Hint at New Home for Saga

Fringe‘s uncertain future was a hot topic Sunday at the Television Critics Association press tour, with both the president of Fox and executive producer J.J. Abrams weighing in on what is and what might need to be.

But when TVLine spoke with EPs Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman earlier this week — after screening the show’s winter premiere (airing Friday, Jan. 13) — they shared their exit plan (or absence of one) should this turn out to be the final season.

“The answer to that question is the same every year,” Pinkner started when asked if and when they’d need a heads up to wrap things up. “Worst case scenario, if this were the last aired season of Fringe — and as we’ve said before, there are other outlets where we could continue our stories, be they graphic novels or webisodes — we know what the end of this season is going to be, and it can function as a series finale.”

Pinkner said that last season’s capper likewise could have served as an apropos out for the sci-fi saga. “Had Peter, the lynchpin for the reason the show existed, been the one to sacrifice himself heroically to save the two universes and the woman he loved, it would have been a very authentic end.”

Fox president Kevin Reilly, when fielding questions about Fringe‘s fate, said the show has been a “point of pride” for him, as boss of a network that famously has let down genre-TV fans. Alas, Fringe is “an expensive show” that is not yielding a profit, he noted, “and we’re not in the business of losing money.”

Reilly said that conversations with Fringe‘s creative team and production studios have yet to take place. But Abrams, for one, says he’s “crossing [his] fingers” that the story of Peter, Olivia, Walter et al “gets to continue — and if not on Fox, maybe somewhere else.” (With reporting by Vlada Gelman)

If they eliminate Fringe from their shows, I will no longer watch any Fox programs!! Why is it that a great show is dropped and ridiculous reality shows are created and shown one after another. Also all those slapstick comedies come near the great drama shows like Fringe. It is a great dram filled with suspense, mystery and humor.
Seems like everything in TV, as all else, is money, money.
Keep this great show going or just lose your faithful losers!!
Jan Cartwright

I’m really intrigued by the show. I came on board after the first episode of the second season. So i went out and bought the first season just to get caught up. Here’s my opinion on where fox went wrong with the show and why the ratings dropped. During the second season it seems like fox did not air some of the shows-episodes due to the MLB games. It seems like they were just asking for the ratings to drop. Next, they kill Charlie, then play an episode they originally did not intend to play in the first place. Oh wait it had charlie alive in it. So i guess to confuse everyone. Then Fox decides to air the show on Friday nights, come on, to me it seems they were asking for it. Also, how they accrue their ratings can’t be an accurate method of gathering information. Enough said. I love the show let it be.

Fox saw a jump in ratings when the renewal was announced last year. If Fos wants to seriously honor genre fans, it will make a deal with Fringe on 2-4 more seasons for a proper ending. A commitment now would let the show carry momentum. People tune out when they have to worry about a show being canceled and ending poorly. Many just wont buy in for that. And don’t think they’ll buy the this season’s finale can work as a finale line. That is the best sign of “but it isn’t what the fans want”. Come on Mr. Reilly, if 1.4 or so is good enough, sign the show up and watch the ratings rise.